Into His Arms Where She Belongs

12

I don't know how to stop him from his ridiculousness kaya naiiling na iniwasan ko na lang siya ng tingin. I focused on the food instead and start eating. Good thing that he stopped with his ridiculous teasing.

Habang kumakain ay panay lapag ako ng ilang pagkain sa plato niya. I don't care about his diet. Kainin niya yan lahat tutal ay pala-desisyon siya. He glared at me when he saw me. I glared back at him too. In the end, hinayaan niya na lang ako. Sabay naming kinain lahat ng binili niya.

"May gagawin ka pa ba mamaya?" bigla niyang tanong.

My forehead frowned a little. Iniisip ko kung may gagawin ba ako mamaya. When I was done, I answered him, "Wala. Bakit?"

"Let me drop you home. Let's eat dinner outside. Dalhin na rin natin si Dad ng pagkain so you won't need to cook after," dire-diretso niyang sabi. Wala man lang lingon sa akin.

"Stop calling him that. He's not your father, Gavreel." Napailing ako. "And he's not your father-in-law."

Mahina siyang tumawa bago ako nakangising sinulyapan. "Not yet."

Mariin kong nailapat ang aking mga labi. I didn't dare look his way dahil sa pag-iinit ng aking mga pisngi dahil sa sinabi niya. The idea of him calling my father Dad... because he is my husband...is doing something to me.

"He likes me though..."

Nilingon ko siya dahil sa bigla niyang pagsasalita.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "He likes you because you're his former boss' son. He thinks you're sharp. It has nothing to do with me."

His eyes mysteriously darted at me. "Really?"

I didn't answer him. Lalaki lang ang ulo niya kapag ginawa ko. I will only say it one time. Bahala siya kung hindi niya narinig nang maayos.

"Still he likes me..." he whispered. I catched how his expression suddenly change into seriousness. "Kailan kaya ikaw?..."

Napalunok ako. I pretended I didn't hear what he said and continue eating. Nagpatuloy rin siya sa pagkain. Wala na akong narinig pa pagkatapos mula sa kanya.

Ang katahimikan ay nabasag din dahil sa paghila ng upuan sa aming harap. Sabay kaming napaangat ng tingin sa bagong dating.

"How rude. Eating without inviting me." Nanghahaba ang nguso ni Rafael nang tuluyang makaupo.

"What are you doing here?" Gavreel's face turned sour.

"Uh? To eat?" Rafael answered sarcastically. "What do people do in cafeteria, dear friend?"

Bumaba ang tingin ni Rafael sa pagkain na nasa aming harap. Kahit kanina pa kami nagsimula ay medyo marami-rami pa iyon.

"Oh? What you got there?" His eyes sparkled.

Akmang kukuha siya ng burger nang tampalin ni Gavreel ang kanyang kamay. That started their stare down. Napangiwi ako.

"Don't you dare touch our food. Can't you see? We're on a date!" asik ni Gavreel.

"On a date? In a cafeteria? Really, Forfax? That's the best you can do?" nang-aasar na saad ni Rafael.

"Not everyone likes fancy restaurants." Gavreel smirked. "And I can see you don't know that. That's why you don't have a girl."

Parang wala lang kay Rafael ang panunuya nu Gavreel. He even smirked at that. Like he's entertained!

"Says the man who can't win a girl," humahalakhak na asar ni Rafael.

Gusto ko nang tumayo, humakbang palayo at umalis pero mukhang magsasakalan ang dalawang 'to kapag iniwan ko.

"At least I have someone to win over? What about you?" puno ng kumpyansang saad pabalik ni Gavreel.

Finally, Rafael surrendered. He rolled his eyes. "I just want a burger. Is that too much to ask?"

"Yes-"

Bago pa magsimula ang pagtatalo ulit nila ay tinakpan ko na ang bibig ni Gavreel. I pushed the tray a little to Rafael.

"Sige na. Kumuha ka. Hindi rin naman namin makakain 'yan lahat, eh," aking hingkayat.

Gavreel glared at me. Sinamaan ko rin siya ng tingin at umambang bibigwasan ko siya kung magrereklamo pa siya. In the end, he accepted his defeat. Nakasimangot na bumalik siya sa pagkain.

"Thanks, Avee! You're the best. That's why my Gavreel loves you dearly." Nag-thumbs up si Rafael.

Nabilaukan naman ako. I didn't expect him to spurt that out blatantly. Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Gavreel kaya siniko ko siya. Parang kanina ay asar na asar, ngayon sayang-saya.

Saglit pa lang kami sa pagkain nang may huminto sa aming gilid. Sabay kaming napalingon lahat sa bagong dating.

"Nandito ka lang pala. Kanina pa ako naghahanap," nakasimangot na bulalas ni Allison.

"Hello, beautiful. You can sit here." Pinagpag ni Rafael ang upuan sa kanyang tabi. "Or if you want you can sit on me."

Napa-facepalm ako. That's so lame. Now I can see kung anong pinaglalaban ni Gavreel kanina.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Allison. Napangiwi naman ako ngayon.

"You brought a pet." Nilingon ni Allison Gavreel. "To entertain? That's nice of you."

Nawala ang ngisi sa labi ng lalaki. He frowned at my friend. "A pet?!"

Hindi siya pinansin ni Allison, which fumes him.

"Hindi na ako magtatagal. May gagawin pa ako. Akala ko kasi ikaw lang mag-isa rito kaya hinanap kita. Isasama dapat. But I see." Sinulyapan niya si Gavreel. "May bago ka ng company. Hindi na yung masakit sa mata."

"Allison!" asik ko.

Kilala ko kung sino pinaparinggan niya. Nasa kabilang table lang si Logan! Although, it's nearly impossible na maiisip ni Logan na siya ang tinutukoy na eyesore ni Allison.

"Oo nga pala. May paparating tayong outdoor tour. Pipiliin lang ang isasama per department. Inform ko lang dahil mukhang isa ka sa mga isasama. Bye!"

Tumalikod na si Allison at naglakad palayo. Habol-habol naman ito ng tingin ni Rafael.

"Is that you friend?" wala sa sariling tanong ni Rafael.

Tumango naman ako.

Lumingon siya sa akin at ngumisi. "She seems cool. We'll be good friends."

Napangiwi na lang ako sa kanyang sinabi at hindi na nag-comment.

My mind went to what Allison said. It's certain na isasama ako. Palagi naman kapag may ganitong tour. I'm one of the representative of our department. Ganon din si Allison...at ganon din si Logan. Does that mean he's coming too? Wala sa sariling napalingon ako kay Logan.

"Don't, Averina... Just don't... Not in front me."

Napapitlag ako nang marinig ang hinanakit sa boses ni Gavreel. He was not looking at me when I turned my eyes to him, but I saw the raw pain in those amber eyes.

"Gavreel..."

Marahas siyang napabuga ng hangin. His eyes finally turned into me...and it was so open. He let me see what he's feeling, and it hurts me.

Sa kabila ng sakit ay nagawa niya pa ring ngumiti. "I love you. Please, do not forget."

*Chapters are not thoroughly edited. Some might still have typos and grammar errors.